Israeli (sic) deportation decision on birds owned by a Palestinian in Al Quds (Jerusalem) - Al Jazeera in Arabic

In a surprising scene that reflects the reality of the dangers that now surround the people of Jerusalem due to the arbitrary 'israeli' measures against them, the occupation authorities notified the Jerusalemite researcher Fakhri Abu Diab to remove the geese he owns from his home in the Al-Bustan neighborhood, south of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Abu Diab, whose house was demolished twice, said that the occupation is trying to dry up all the elements of life in the Al-Bustan neighborhood "to deprive us of security, social and human safety, and even of having birds."

He added in his interview with Al Jazeera that the law allows the ownership of birds, "but it is very clear that the targeting is of humans, stones, and even birds now in the Al Bustan neighborhood. This means the final elimination of the Palestinian presence and everything related to it."

He continued, saying that the geese he owns, “according to the occupation’s view, threaten the security of the State of 'israel' (…) they may pose a danger to their existence. Yes, these geese are older than the occupation, and they multiplied before its existence.”

Ironically, Abu Diab says that when the occupation police and municipality issued the order to remove the geese, they asked him for his identity number, so he asked them if they wanted to remove him or the birds.

He stressed that the occupation does not want to have any connection to the neighborhood, “for our children, our grandchildren, and our presence with these birds is what alleviates our pain, suffering, and hardships, and what is happening in the Al-Bustan neighborhood specifically. Therefore, the occupation wants to remove the things that might distract us a little from our worries, our misfortunes, and the demolition of our homes.”

And then - the Jerusalem researcher continued - "the occupation can easily, according to its plan, establish biblical gardens and parking lots for settlers and fight the Arab presence in the region."

For his part, lawyer and legal advisor Medhat Deeb said that there are laws set by the occupation municipality to protect pets, but when studying the case of the geese owned by Fakhri Abu Diab, they do not need permission from the officer in charge of veterinary care in the 'israeli' health department in order to keep them at home.

He stated that the occupation municipality "issued an arbitrary decision to seize a goose that does not require permission to be acquired, and therefore we are talking about an arbitrary application of positive law without justification."

Since 2015, the targeting of the Batn al-Hawa neighborhood and the town of Silwan has escalated, and more than 84 Palestinian families, comprising about 700 individuals, have been placed in danger of eviction, based on the 'israeli' “Legal and Administrative Matters” Law of 1970, which is a discriminatory tool that allows Jews to claim pre-1948 properties, while Palestinians are denied the right to reclaim their properties.